Apartment living, especially in multi-story buildings, has only recently become a common and sometimes more prestigious option for Filipinos. Cities in the Philippines were spacious enough until the mid-twentieth century to allow for "bungalow" living in extramural enclaves or "subdivisions." From then on, the move, aside from outward, was also upward.
The architects of these buildings were local or locally-based designers. Pablo Antonio was one of the more prolific ones. The Syquia apartments are credited to him. Others were designed by American architects like Cheri Mandelbaum, who was stationed here and had held a post at the Bureau of Public Works.
The apartments were more often than not done in Art Deco style, with sleek lines and modern façades. The units had high ceilings, modern conveniences like elevators, telephone lines, hot and cold water and spacious balconies. Balconies were an integral part of each apartment and from these, one could enjoy the sea air and grand view of the sunset or swards of green. Most faced the bay while others, like those in Pasay, overlooked Harrison Park and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Everyone had a room with a view!
Higher structures made their appearance in the late Fifties and early Sixties when building materials were more available and land was more expensive. These buildings were also designed in the newer "international style" that took over 10 years to get to these shores. Form followed function as cantilevers and new materials like aluminum and steel emerged.
Two high-rise apartment buildings of note were built in this period – the Carmen Apartments on Roxas Boulevard and the Monterey Apartments along Ayala Avenue in Makati.
The Carmen is one of his most elegant buildings. Its curved plan is a stylish contrast to the surrounding buildings and complements the larger curve of the boulevard. All the floors and units have wide cantilevered balconies that provide entertainment space as well as shade from the sun. Steel railings and large windows combine with these floating slabs to give the building a lightness and transparency even though the main building material is reinforced concrete. Indoors, the units are roomy and spaces flow into each other and onto the balconies. Stairs and elevators are well-integrated and parking spaces are adequate.
The building survives to this day, though in need of a little sprucing up. The lines and silhouette still stand out and the building should be considered part of the architectural heritage of the area contributing, as it does, to the character of the waterfront boulevard.
The Monterey was also done in the international style and made of reinforced concrete. Like the Carmen Apartments, it also featured large overhanging balconies with steel railings. Locsin added aluminum louvers, or brise soleil as they were more fashionably called, on the hotter western façade for additional shade. (Arguelles used the same device on his Philamlife building which was under construction then.)
The Monterey was an extremely transparent building. Bands of glazing were wrapped around the building while one wall of the stairwell was all glass! Locsin also broke the mass of the building down by playing with the faced planes. The building looked great at night especially since there were few buildings around. Like a lantern, it beaconed to urbanites to embrace modernity and come to Makati.
Indoors, the units were as bright and light as their façade. I do prefer Locsin’s earlier building before the onset of his "brutalist" concrete phase. The influence of Bauhaus and modernist architects like Mies and Nuetra was as evident as were the creativity and craftsmanship. However, such can only be gleaned from pictures now as the building was replaced by a larger and taller condominium building in the 1970s.
I should consider myself blessed that my view is still the fairly green vista of the UP, Balara, Maryknoll and Ateneo campuses. But I look the other way and all I see is the thick layer of smog pierced here and there by a Manila, Makati or Ortigas skyscraper.
I should consider myself lucky, too, that Katipunan has all the amenities one needs, save for a good cinema. Restaurants and convenience stores are all a walk away. The downside is that there are no sidewalks to speak of and one is constantly inhaling motorcycle engine fumes on the trip to rent a VCD or DVD.
Vertical living is a good option. For urban Filipinos of the future, it may be the only future. To make it work, much needs to be done to control and ensure good design for condos and mixed-use complexes. Our zoning laws and building codes need to address new or re-discovered forms of urban design and planning that integrate these types of housing in a more user- and pedestrian-friendly way. The resurrection of streets, parks, plazas and public spaces should be part of this effort.
Finally, I do hope that one day, we may be able to use balconies once more with cleaner air, clearer views, more green spaces and a higher quality of urban life.